Golfweek Amateur Tour - The Podcast

National Champions, Senior Showdowns, and a Season of Growth

• Tim Newman & Chris Rocha • Season 4 • Episode 24

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In this episode of Golfweek Amateur Tour – The Podcast, hosts Tim Newman and Chris Rocha celebrate the champions, stories, and camaraderie that make this tour, Where Amateurs Play Like Pros!

Fresh off the National Championships, we sit down with winners from both the Golfweek Amateur Tour and the Senior Amateur Tour to relive their biggest moments. From Jeff Wong’s short-game masterclass to Ricardo Almeida’s first-ever El Paso national title, these champions share the mindset, course strategies, and mental resilience that defined their victories.

We also highlight the community heartbeat behind the competition, tour directors, fellow players, and families, reminding us that amateur golf isn’t just about scores; it’s about stories, friendships, and growth.

As we look ahead to the upcoming season and Black Friday kickoff, Tim and Chris reflect on lessons learned, celebrate milestones, and offer a reminder to every competitive golfer: patience, preparation, and passion build champions on and off the course.

Listen in for:

  • The secret to performing under pressure at national championships
  • What the short game reveals about consistency and confidence
  • Senior Amateur Tour champions on friendship, focus, and fierce competition
  • The post-win chaos and emotions of national champions
  • Tour-wide support moments that prove this golf community is family

Follow the Golfweek Amateur Tour online at amateurgolftour.net and the Senior Amateur Tour at senioramateurgolftour.net. Subscribe, share, and join the community where Amateurs Play Like Pros!

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SPEAKER_03:

Why are you laughing? Why you laughing? Just because I'm leaving this in, just so you know.

SPEAKER_02:

I'm like, that's fine. That's fine.

SPEAKER_03:

Welcome back, Chris.

SPEAKER_02:

You know, hi.

SPEAKER_03:

It was not I'm not in the move for this today. We got 350 some days, 345 or 350 days to national championship.

SPEAKER_02:

Ready? Go. Uh yeah, I mean I'm ready now. I have I have revenge to to take out uh uh out there, so I I'm excited. I've been excited for a while now.

SPEAKER_03:

Well I I I I'm glad you're feeling better. Um I I know that was uh it was not how you wanted National Championship Week to go. Um gl glad you you made it home safely and and and you're feeling better. But you Yeah man let's look at things, it's not all about Chris. It's not all about Chris.

SPEAKER_02:

For this show it is, at least half of it.

SPEAKER_03:

Well, I was gonna congratulate you because you you you as a tour director accomplished something this year that that that I didn't and I so I want to congratulate you personally and publicly on your first uh uh national champion out of out of a tour that that you've been tour director of. It's it's a big accomplishment. I mean, you know, it's there's only five uh national champions a year. Right when you've got you know forty-some tour directors, forty-some tours, um five are I mean, only five are gonna walk away with with a national champion at most.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, man. Yeah. Ricardo Almeda, sea fly champ. Um, I mean, he's been working all year. Uh, him and another one of my players, Jared Lanham. Uh I'm gonna share this story because they've shared it with probably half the tour there, anybody that can listen. Uh, but last year during our tour final awards, they didn't get one award. And it kind of rubbed them the wrong way because they know that that they can win, you know, something. Uh so they worked all summer or all winter and came out firing, and Rick Ricardo won the Vegas regional, first regional of the year. Um so to win that and then to go to nationals and win in uh you know, he third day he had a big lead, and and I think he gave up six shots in the first three holes. Um so to be able to overcome that and grind it out and and take the victory. I mean, he's one of the most humble guys um you'll ever meet. I'm pretty sure we'll get him back on here during our uh veterans um episode because he is he is a veteran. Um but I mean he just just a cool guy, and you know, kept telling me, here you take the trophy. This is our tour's trophy. And it's like, no, man, you earned it, you deserve it. Um, but he just kept you know saying that that it's all for for El Paso. And uh yeah, it's pretty cool to have a national champ. Um trying to figure out some nice things I can do for him throughout the year to to kind of highlight that for for our tour itself. Um you know it it's cool to be the tour farthest west to have a national champ now. It was Dallas last year and now it's us.

SPEAKER_03:

Wow, so so so Arizona doesn't have one?

SPEAKER_02:

Nope.

SPEAKER_03:

How about that? Okay, so I I know how close you and Gabe are. You you didn't you know rub that in at all, did you?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, nonstop. Um to the point where uh I I sent them uh sent him a screenshot of our our email for the Ryder Cup trash talking. Uh so I I sent him a little picture and I made sure to include Ricardo's face in there because he's above our Ryder Cup part of that email. So uh he'll get glimpses of it every every once in a while. Just wait. He has no idea.

SPEAKER_03:

I I I know you guys that that's coming up in in December, so we got we got some time. We'll we'll we'll talk about that uh um definitely next episode. Uh but I you know I I did want you to know how how proud I am of you and and what you're what you're doing with with the El Paso tour. And it it it shouldn't go unnoticed. I appreciate it. You know, only we we joke and we give you know we give each other a hard time a lot, but you know, I d uh I can't tell you how proud I am of with your growth in as being a tour director, the things that you're stepping up to doing, and um how much better you're getting and how much better we are getting together as a as a team doing doing this and it that that was pointed out um by other people by other people numerous times uh over the course of national championship. I just want to let you know how how I felt how I feel about it.

SPEAKER_02:

So no, I appreciate it. I mean I and it goes both ways. And uh, you know, it it it's cool when you know me being a player, the player of the group, um, show up to like the luncheons and it's like, hey, where what happened to you? Where's your scores? Uh type of thing. You know, it it it it's it can get annoying to have to tell a hundred people that you're not feeling well. Um but at the same time it is cool that that that we're making an impact on the tour. Um you know, I I mean we from episode one to now, I think we've you and me have improved. Uh we've got to know each other a little bit better, and and maybe that's why we're laughing so much when when we when we start recording. But um it's been awesome, man, and and I can't wait for what's this now, season three for us?

SPEAKER_03:

Actually, we're officially we we've finished three full years, but we're actually going into to season four. Um starting after uh uh Black Friday. Black Friday is is the opening of uh you know Airfinger's quotes of the official tour season. Um because so we're you know we're still we're still in the 2025 season here and and you know we you know I I really do like wrapping things up the this way. You know, we we have we have a have an episode or two where we can kind of look back and and see where what was done, what we've accomplished, you know, celebrate celebrate some things, you know, rub some dirt in some things, you know, for other people and you know get you know you know try to tr try and get them a little bit motivated. Uh you know, that's not really hard, but um but to relax a little bit before the before it kicks off because what people don't truly understand um as as golfers, okay, you may be taking some time off of the tour, you maybe you're still playing golf, maybe you're practicing, maybe you're getting ready and those types of things. But from the tour director's perspective and the national office perspective, uh I can tell you they get so the seniors was over on a Thursday, they get Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. They get three days off.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, and then it's full steam ahead.

SPEAKER_03:

And then it's full steam ahead because you gotta wrap up everything from national championship, you've got to pay people out. And if j just let me stop there. If you do something from national championship, please be patient. They're working on it, they'll get it out. Uh whether it's skin money, whether it's uh you placed, whether it's two-manned, what whatever it is. If if you do something, please be patient. They're they'll they'll they'll get it to you. But that's it. They they've got three days. Right. Close up national championship, you know, pay people what's gotta be paid, wrap things up, shut it down, turn it over, get the website ready, get all this other stuff done, um, and have it open and ready to go on on Black Friday. That's a that's a pretty tall task. So yeah, so today is nov November 3rd. Okay, Black Friday is 25 days away.

SPEAKER_02:

Don't tell me that I haven't even done my schedule yet.

SPEAKER_03:

25 days away, guys.

SPEAKER_02:

Hey, better get on better get together. Yeah, I mean, uh, yeah. And and I mean, and also keep in mind it i i if you did take advantage of the huge sale at the Pro Shop, um, they probably have to ship all that out too. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

So let's listen to uh uh interviews from our national champions.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, let's do it. Right. We're here with our champ flight champion from Hilton Head Savannah, Mr. Jeff Wong. Jeff, we talk about you all the time on the podcast. Okay. I don't know if you listen or not. Well, I do once in a while, yeah. Yeah, um Tim's always talking about you. There's a handful of guys that you know your name is known in the champ flight. Uh for you to come out here minus five through the weekend.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, uh, what were the courses you played? Uh we started at Oyster Reef on Friday, and then we did Hampton Hall on Saturday and the country club Hildenhead uh on Sunday here today.

SPEAKER_02:

And you went 697270, which is solid. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04:

How how do you feel you played? I didn't play that great, to be honest. Uh I hit for to be, for example, my greens and regulation. I only hit nine greens on Friday, I hit only 10 greens on Saturday and only nine greens today. But my short game was on point. Yeah. I chipped in a couple times. Um I got up and down from everywhere and on stressful, like out of the bunkers, around the greens, up to a few feet. So not stressful bars. Drilling those. Yeah, I just couldn't get my irons all weekend. Like uh was hitting it off the toe, I was hitting them thin. Um, but it goes show what a good short game will do. Right. You know, I mean there's there's a reason, you know, the best players that's what they practice a lot. Um and I you know didn't realize how much I was going to lean on it. Didn't really want to lean on it. Right. I would have loved to have hit like 14, 15 greens, you know, a lot of two plus, make a few birds here and there, but you just have to just so I can get like uh you gotta make it work with whatever you got.

SPEAKER_02:

Right. I mean, I I think that's that's awesome coming from Champ Fly because you know a lot a lot of players look up to their champ fly guys, um, and to say that you don't have to be strong off the T or even an approach. If you're strong on your short game, you're chipping, you're putting, that's where it matters. And I mean, like you said, you only hit half greens and reg.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, I I hid literally one green over 50% for the entire three days. Do you um you have uh any memorable shots from this weekend? Uh couple chip-ins were pretty good, 18 at the country club here. Okay, um, you know, there was uh Brian Quackenbush, great player. Right. This guy, I envy him. He struck the ball so well. Great ball strike. I'm thinking if I struck the ball like half as well as he did, I win by 10. Like no problem. Uh but he was playing just solid all day. And uh yeah, I made a a good par on 17, then 18, uh hit a drive and then laid up or hit you know, strown through it up there. The last shot I hit, a little wedge from about 60 yards, put it to about two feet. I was just like, everything was just like ah, thank you, after all. Yeah, right. Um at that point. Because I never look at the leaderboard and never, but yeah, at that point I was like, we we got her done. So I I can't recall, is this your first time winning it? This is my third. With Jerry. I won in 2019 and 2021. And now 25. Yeah, I'd skip 23. I'm good on the odd years. Uh so 23, I'm blaming COVID. I don't know, because it's there to blame. Okay. Um, but uh yeah, that it seems like every other year in the odd years I do pretty well. So that's awesome, man. Yeah, had a lot of fun though. A lot of good players out there. Uh it's uh it's it says something when you we come out on top and our uh field as strong right as what we have here, and in all the flights. I'm sure all the champ you know winners from each flag feel that way. Oh, for sure.

SPEAKER_02:

I mean you have to because you get to know all these players throughout the year.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, oh absolutely, especially if you travel a lot, you get to know these guys, and so you know who you're going up against. And there's tons of good players, you know. It's so I feel fortunate to be the last one standing, I guess.

SPEAKER_02:

Isn't gonna be the last time we talked to you, I bet. I hope not. I'm pretty sure you're gonna have a great 2026. Uh you got a little chip on your shoulder, yeah, you know, being national champ again.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, gotta put the target back on my back, I guess. I like that. For sure. Well, again, congratulations. Thank you very much. Appreciate everything you guys do, seriously. Appreciate you. Yeah, thank you guys.

SPEAKER_02:

All right, we have our A-Flight champ, Chris Centala. Centala, yeah. Congratulations, first off. Thank you. Appreciate it. Uh, he's from the Tampa, Florida tour. Shot a 229 and one by three strokes today. What what course did you play this weekend?

SPEAKER_13:

Uh Friday we played Country Club of Hilton Heads Saturday we played Oyster Reef, and Sunday today we played uh Hampton Hall.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. Although those three, which one Hampton Hall, not even close. I agree. That that's my favorite one to come out here. So I can agree. I mean, you shot 74 today. Yeah. Um kind of helped you seal the deal. What did you ever look at the scoreboard throughout today?

SPEAKER_13:

Uh no, I looked at it at my hotel when I got back to it. I stayed off the scoreboard completely. And where where were you going into today? What place? Uh so at the end of the first day I was first, end of the second day, I was tied for third, and then the end of today I was first. Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

So your strong showing today is what helped you get through it. Totally. Um, how long have you been on tour?

SPEAKER_13:

It's my first year.

SPEAKER_02:

First year on tour, first year out here, and you come out with a win.

SPEAKER_13:

Yes.

SPEAKER_02:

So what's next?

SPEAKER_13:

What's next? Um I got a seven-hour drive ahead of me back home and I'm looking forward to. But um, as far as golf goes, just you know, in the offseason, just making sure I stay sharp and then uh come back in January, February, kick it back up, keep competing. Nice.

SPEAKER_02:

You're gonna try Tramp Flight?

SPEAKER_13:

We'll see. We'll see.

SPEAKER_02:

It's always the dangerous question to ask, right?

SPEAKER_13:

It's it's a tough uh bracket up there. We got some really good guys in Champ Flight.

SPEAKER_02:

For sure. Tampa's always been loaded. Oh, yeah. Um, throughout the three-round, did you have a memorable shot? You kind of remember?

SPEAKER_13:

I can think of one. Yeah, we it was a par five. There was um trouble long. It was about 310 to the trouble, and it hit driver into the trouble. Didn't think I could get it there. Um, so I had to take my penalty stroke out, drop my ball, and then I hit um from about 225, a little bit of helping wind. I hit a six iron to about 15 feet and saved my par. Wow. Yeah. Well, who was it? Well, what course was this? This was today at Hampton Hall. Oh, wow. Yeah, that's that's pretty good. I heard the winds were pretty tough out there. It was not, it was no joke. It was tough, man. You had to keep the ball low. If you didn't, it was anyone's guess where we found out.

SPEAKER_02:

I heard some guys are hitting three wood off some part threes. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_13:

Yeah, oh, it wouldn't surprise me.

SPEAKER_02:

So, yeah, I mean, coming out here, taking the win, that's awesome. Uh, how many you know how many birdies you had throughout the week?

SPEAKER_13:

If I had maybe like five, six somewhere in there. Good. That's not bad. Yeah, not too bad.

SPEAKER_02:

So, enjoy your ride home. Thank you. Make sure you put that trophy in the seatbelt. Oh, definitely. I mean, I I usually do when I win a trophy, I'll put it in the seatbelt, make sure it's safe. Um, and then hope to see you out here next year to defend. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Thank you so much. All right, our B flight champion uh from Central North Carolina, Mr. Paul Hines. Paul, congratulations. Thank you, sir. Um, you're lucky I had to withdraw. But um, how do you feel, man? It's you know, it's been almost an hour, hour and a half after the last putt's probably gone through.

SPEAKER_15:

Yeah, it's surreal, man, because even after yesterday I felt an 87. I came into it this morning, kind of just thinking I was out of it. So I just came out here to have a good time and ended up shooting the lowest round I've ever carted. So so B Flight, we you know, we split up day one, day two.

SPEAKER_02:

Where did you start? What course did you start? Uh Robert Trent Jones. Okay. So you shot 82 of Robert Trent Jones.

SPEAKER_15:

That's very impressive. I love uh this kind of course and that one, uh Arthur Hills and Robert, I love those kind of courses. Yeah, it's kind of a placement golf course where you gotta hit the shots where you want them, or you're you know blocked out. Right. So so 82 is really good. Then you go to Golden Bear 87. That rough is thick, or the rough and the trees. Yeah, they're they're they're close to you. Yeah, I struggled pretty bad after that.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh and then you come out here, Arthur Hills, and shoot a 76, which might be the low round of the day for B-Fight. That's that's impressive.

SPEAKER_15:

It's again, that's the lowest score I've ever shot in my life. So, yeah, I shot a 79 a couple weeks ago, and then so just had everything was clicking on all cylinders. For sure. How how long have you been on tour? So this would be my second year, but first year here. Wow. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

First year is out to nationals, and you take it all. That's ultimate bragging rights, you know that, right? I'm happy. I'm happy. For sure. You get to go back home and say, hey, it can be done.

SPEAKER_15:

This is your first year. For sure. And yeah, and I was talking to my buddies before we came down here, and they were just like, Man, if you can shoot the consistent low edge, you can win it. And I was like, Yeah, whatever, man, you know. And it tended to happen. So for sure. Uh any memorable shots you might have had? Probably today, actually. Uh, I think it was on the last two holes. I had about 200 yards over water to hit the green, and uh my buddy was like, Man, just lay up or whatever you do, just take your time. I said, I'm gonna rip it, hit a three-wood 200 yards, and put it to 10 feet. Wow. So that was probably the most memorable. Did you make the putt? I didn't because it was just a super slippery putt. Two-putted though. Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I liked it. At least at least it was in a three-put. We don't want those. That's right. So what's next? You staying in B flight?

SPEAKER_15:

You're gonna try to see how A-flight goes? So probably. Um, you know, uh talking to the tour director, of course, but you know, I don't like being in a flight. I don't do you know, I don't like if I'm playing good, I don't like to, you know, sandbag for sure. So wherever they want to place me, I'm cool with it.

SPEAKER_02:

That's awesome, yeah. Yeah, well, again, congratulations. For sure. I I I know it's not easy. Uh my guy told me he couldn't even sleep after Saturday night.

SPEAKER_15:

It's been a stressful weekend for sure, you know, especially coming into something like this. Three days of golf is a lot of golf for an amateur, you know, back to back. So you know, just staying disciplined and staying consistent, and uh God is done.

SPEAKER_02:

That's what it is. That's right.

SPEAKER_15:

Well, congratulations again.

SPEAKER_02:

Enjoy it, and I hope to see y'all next year. We'll be here. All right, thank you. All right, we're here in national champion for sea flight. Uh, little bias here from El Paso, Texas. Ricardo Almelo, congratulations. Thank you. I appreciate it. So you played what courses?

SPEAKER_07:

Arthur Hills, Arthur Hills, Country Club, Country Club, and then uh Golden Bear.

SPEAKER_02:

And Country Club, you had a great round.

SPEAKER_07:

I did seven. I did have a 77. Yeah, it was a round that you know, it's one of those rounds that you kind of come out there as a golfer, you understand, and it it happened. So I'm thankful for it. And that helped me, you know, propel me to you know where I'm at today. So yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you. So C flight. Uh you know what your total score was?

SPEAKER_07:

I do not. I just wasn't really paying attention.

SPEAKER_02:

Did you ever look at the scoreboard at all? I did.

SPEAKER_07:

Oh, yeah. I had to, I mean, of course I did, yeah. I had to, you know.

SPEAKER_02:

All right. So you ended with a 251. You won by eight strokes. Okay. Um, and you mentioned to me earlier that you couldn't sleep last night.

SPEAKER_07:

Well, what was on your mind the whole the whole evening? Well, for one, blowing the probably a large lead that you know, If you know it's one of those things, you think about it, and if you blow a lead like that, it's not good. So as I was thinking, you know, my fellow El Paso members that were gonna probably make rad on me and stuff, so I had to make sure that was like that was good, and I took this home. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Nice. So you're the first ever for the El Paso tour out of I think it's been 14, 15 years you've been around. Um, I know you've come before and you've gotten real close, but how do you feel now that you've crossed the finish line? You know, you've been able to let it soak for what probably an hour now.

SPEAKER_07:

Yeah, no, it feels good. I mean, I'm thankful. I mean, God, god, all glory to God, and I'm just thankful for it. But yeah, it's just it's a good feeling, especially to bring it home for El Paso for all my fellow GWAP members. I this is all for them, and uh always I I give it to them.

SPEAKER_02:

We appreciate you. I mean, you've always been humble all year long. Oh man, B Flight can't wait to have you. I'm excited about B Flight. I am. I mean, you started the year regional champ, you end the year national champ, tour final MVP, flight champion.

SPEAKER_07:

Yes. Goals and they're goal, they're goals that we had. And it is so I mean, um, I give a shout out to one of my fellow members, Jared, um, Jared Lanham. He's in, you know, obviously he's in the B flight. And we we we went through this last year, where we were like, okay, we're sitting there, everybody's getting their trophies at the end of the uh of the season, and we were just like, no, it ain't gonna happen no more. And uh we we had a good season. So I give a shout-out to my boy Jared. You both did.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, enjoy the celebration. I will I will. Uh we'll need you out there for the Ryder Cup for bragging out. Be there, yes. And um, again, congratulations. Last last question. Yeah. One shot that was memorable for you.

SPEAKER_07:

Uh one shot. Uh probably the shot I had last night at the bar. But um, no, it was. I mean, it's it's hard to say a shot that I had that was memorable this weekend. I don't know. I can't tell you. I mean, a lot of maybe somewhere in out in the Hilton head, uh the country club. I I mean, but I don't even know.

SPEAKER_02:

The last one. Yeah. Say the last one that went in. The last deal.

SPEAKER_07:

Oh, this one right, yeah, that's right. The one here on 18, yes, uh at uh at Golden Bear, yes. Still the deal. That's it. All right, brother.

SPEAKER_02:

Let's do it again. Congratulations. Thanks, man. Appreciate it, Roddy. Thank you. All right, we're here with our D flight champion from Washington, DC Metro, Zach Thompson.

SPEAKER_14:

Zach, congratulations. Thank you. How do you feel? It's good. It's been, you know, this I was here last year and uh it's my first year on tour last year, and uh it was pretty cool actually. Final day, got to uh play with my dad in the same group. Um, so it was like pretty cool over you know, get to play with your dad on the final day, but I ended up getting fourth. Um so you know, was practiced uh got got a lot better and uh came out here and was wanted to get first again or try to get first. So I was happy I did. I mean, you had some solid rounds. What what was the order of the courses you played? Uh Hampton Hall, uh Arthur Hills, and then Robert Jen Jones today.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, so you had the harder one in the last day.

SPEAKER_14:

Uh yeah, RTJ was uh the back nine, especially. I I was I was happy with I went 42 on the front, which is pretty good for me. And uh, but I went 50 on the back, and that's you know, I had a round like over 45 all all uh all tournaments. So I was uh that was pretty pretty rough.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, it can be.

SPEAKER_14:

I mean 84 Hampton Hall, I can see it, it's pretty wide open. Uh and then out here, you know, you gotta be a little bit tighter. Target golf, that's what it was here. I was I probably you know, I only took driver once or twice. Everything else was either three water, four hybrid, and uh that kept it alive. Nice. So first national championship. You're moving up to C5 next year? Absolutely. Yeah, yeah. I had to go up there and give my uh tour director and my dad some more hell and try to uh come back out here next year and win another one. Your tour director C Fis, isn't it? Yeah, C Fis is okay.

SPEAKER_02:

Off topic. Sure. Because I've known C Fis for a while. Yeah. What was your impression when you saw his golf cart the first time with his iPad, his iPhone, his GPS?

SPEAKER_14:

I'll tell you, you know, when I first started on the tour, I didn't make I didn't have anything like that, but you know, I I put a little phone holder up there now. It's uh, you know, I mean it's you know, all the gadgets might be a lot, but you know, it's uh he definitely got a little phone getting a little phone holder was uh was the move, and I probably wouldn't have got one had I not us started playing on the tour. So right. Um but yeah, C Fizz is a trip. He's a great, he's a great guy, great director. Great director.

SPEAKER_02:

Um but now you played these three rounds, you know, obviously you're a national champ. Any memorable shots you might have had?

SPEAKER_14:

Um, you know, off the top of my head, I I actually was probab not even drives weren't it wasn't even like a drive or anything. I had a uh I had a I had a real great shot and like and had a birdie on uh 11 at Arthur Hills, and that was probably that was a real good one. It didn't stick. I didn't get the skin, I didn't get the skin, of course, but uh you know that was I stuck at like four feet left and it was an easy uphill punt. It was uh it was a good bird.

SPEAKER_02:

Nice. Well, anything else that you want to say? You know, uh now that you're a national champ, it's kind of stuck in a little bit. Yeah, you get to take all the media pictures. Oh yeah, you can get your your face on the big billboard next year.

SPEAKER_14:

Everybody gets to look at my face for a whole year every time they go on the site, so it's good. A little bragging right there. Absolutely, yeah. They see me every day. Well, congratulating, thanks, man. We'll see you next year.

SPEAKER_03:

Let's take a break from the show to hear about TrickSon's ZX Mark II irons.

SPEAKER_00:

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SPEAKER_11:

Okay, we are here for the 2025 Senior Amateur Tour National Championships. We're here with our champ flight winner, Wendell Aikens from Louisiana. Welcome to Hilton Head and congratulations on winning the event. Why not we?

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_11:

Why don't you tell us a little bit about uh when you joined the tour and uh what brought you, what what was the key factor in coming down for the national championship?

SPEAKER_06:

So I joined the tour two or three years ago. Um, you know, once you turn 50, that there's a lull between 40 and 50 where you really are battling to to find somewhere to play. And once you turn 50, you have a lot of opportunities. And this was one of them to prepare you for upcoming tournaments. And our tournament director, Troy Coker, he puts on such a he advertises such a great product, and he gives you such a great product and gives gives everyone a chance to to participate and compete uh in high-level golf, which is what in you know what inspired me or what what actually drew me to the tour. Um, and once I got in, I I realized, hey, this is you know, there there's some really, really good competition here. And um, you know, it's it it it's a good path.

SPEAKER_11:

Yeah, Trey does a phenomenal job. Part of my job is to train our tour directors, and Trey is an all-around, super nice guy, hardworking, cares about his players, does a does a really nice job, you know, runs a tight shit down there.

SPEAKER_06:

The bet he he's he's the best director there is. I I I've played under several d directors as far as traveling to other tours and and playing regionals uh and other tournaments. And as far as it's running the event, Trey Cooker's the best. You you can't you can't deny that.

SPEAKER_11:

I I agree. So let's talk a little bit about this weekend or this this tournament, I should say. Um tell us uh what you shot each day, a little bit about the course, your favorite part of uh of your game.

SPEAKER_06:

So I shot 70, uh, excuse me, pardon me. I shot 65, 700, 73, 1 over, and the 65 put me in position to do what I needed or whatever I wanted to do in the final round. Once I got in the final round, we were I was so many clear of third that all I had to do was worry about second place. So therefore it was just match play from there. Um you know, uh it's not something that you want to say or broadcast, but I all I heard was I had to beat one player, and obviously that player was in second place. Okay. Okay. Now he's a great player, he won the regular tour last week, but unfortunately for him, he was in second place chasing me for for this weekend. Okay. Um so all I had to do was beat him today. That was it. And we were fortunate enough to be able to come out on top.

SPEAKER_11:

And who was that player? That was Jeff Warren. Jeff Warren. I just wanted to hear you say that. Everybody who's listening, Jeff is a legend down here. Yeah, he is. So for you, yes, you definitely heard that he's the person to beat. And he wins a lot.

SPEAKER_06:

So they forgot about me.

SPEAKER_11:

Well, I think they didn't know about you. I don't know that they forgot.

SPEAKER_06:

Well, if they would have checked uh if they would have checked the world golf ranking points, they would have known.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay. What's what's your strength in your game?

SPEAKER_06:

I have I have no strength and I have no weaknesses.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah. So I play a lot of next level tournaments for amateurs. But I also play at a high level on simulator golf, which is a S SMI, simulator golf tour, SMT. Um, the world golf ranking there pretty much matches you with world golf ranking in regular golf amateur. So if you're ranked in simulator golf, you're pretty much gonna be in the in the same area in world golf uh amateur rankings on regular golf. Um, so I played a lot of that, but um, you know, that that gives By a lot of people. They don't really recognize your world golf ranking when you come to an event like this. So yeah, that that's what puts me above everyone else is that I'm competing not only on turf, but I'm competing on simulator as well.

SPEAKER_11:

So what'd you think of the courses? Being here in person, on the ground?

SPEAKER_06:

What what the first course we played was really, really, really great. The second course, they did everything they could to give us the best product that they had. And I had no problems with it because everyone had to play it. Could have been better, yes, but could have been worse as as as well. But I have no qualms with the golf courses.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay. So uh will we see you back here again next year?

SPEAKER_06:

Probably not.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay.

SPEAKER_06:

Yeah, we'll be moving on to uh to other events.

SPEAKER_11:

Well, I'm glad that we had you here this time. Now I know that you brought somebody with you.

SPEAKER_06:

Um my wife, my my one and only, my significant other, my special uh person and uh my partner and wife.

SPEAKER_11:

And I'm guessing you wouldn't be here at the winner's table without her support.

SPEAKER_06:

100%. It's if she didn't come, you and I would not be having this conversation.

SPEAKER_11:

Well, I'm glad that you both came and that we had you here. And congratulations on your win, and we really appreciate it.

SPEAKER_06:

Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_11:

Absolutely. All right, everyone, we're here with the 2025 Senior Amateur Tour National Championships. We're here with Clayton McCoy from the A-Flight. Um, why don't you tell us a little bit about your journey with the senior amateur tour? How long have you been on the tour?

SPEAKER_05:

This is my first year joining the tour back in March. Uh was talked into it by a good friend of mine. And uh once he talked me into it, I I started and and really enjoyed it and just come through every tournament they had in the Augusta Tour series. So once we got through that, and yeah, that's basically it. It's my first year doing it.

SPEAKER_11:

First year right out of the gates, and now you're you're the big winner. Okay, wow. So that that's pretty amazing.

SPEAKER_05:

Had you won many of your tournaments in the very last tournament, our uh our final tour tournament at the uh Fort Eisenhower two-day tournament. Um I've competed in every one of them pretty much. I was in the, you know, in the in the top five, probably in every tournament. So I played really well. Um I did finally close the you know, close out and won that at Fort Eisenhower.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay. So what were your thoughts going through yesterday and today? Did you know you were in the lead uh as you were playing?

SPEAKER_05:

Did you watch the No, I I usually don't watch the leaderboard. I don't ha it makes me too nervous. I don't like to see where I fall. Um I guess playing I played pretty decent yesterday. Uh ended up shooting us, I think it was a 78. Uh not bad for the course I thought we'd played. Okay. So, but no, I don't ever check the leaderboard. I checked it once I finished up, I checked it and said, Well, I think I was sitting tied for 12. And I said, Well, it's gonna be what it is today. And uh I never checked the leaderboard until I made a birdie on number or 18th hold, uh, and I said, Well that maybe put me pretty close. So once I checked it, I said, Well, how to go to a playoffs. So that's a shop. So Wow, the last birdie to to get into the playoff.

SPEAKER_11:

So how uh tense was it for you?

SPEAKER_05:

Honestly, it wasn't as bad um this time around. For some reason I wasn't as nervous. I was pretty pretty confident in what I was doing because I played well all day. Okay. So uh I just done what I normally do, just hit the ball down the middle and you try to hit the pin and then go off from there.

SPEAKER_11:

So was it a one hole playoff? One hole playoff. Okay. What'd you think of the courses that you play?

SPEAKER_05:

You know, back home where I'm from, we don't have these kind of courses now. Once I went to the Augusta Tour, I played on some great courses there. But the guard the courses are really set up, you know, they're well maintained. Uh Roberts Row yesterday was really tough because it's so narrow and tight to play and short. Uh but the day's course was in extremely great conditions, so I really enjoyed it.

SPEAKER_11:

And what did you shoot today? Okay, not not bad. Not bad. So what did you like the most out of your first year on the tour? Other than winning national championships.

SPEAKER_05:

That was the most uh some really great people that I met and made some lifetime from your friendships. Uh everybody I played with from every tournament has been great. So I think that's the most memorable thing that I have.

SPEAKER_11:

Wonderful. So now you'll get to see your picture up on the website all season for next year. Get nice trophy, nice prize, and uh do it again next year. We'll we'll see you back here next year. Okay. Well, thank you so much for coming on. Thank you. And uh safe travels home. All right, we are here now with our B flight winner of the 2025 Senior Amateur Tour National Championship. We've got a repeater here. We've got Michael Anderson in the in the B flight. So welcome back.

SPEAKER_12:

Thank you, appreciate it.

SPEAKER_11:

So tell us a little bit about your experience on the tour because you're not a newcomer here. You're not like some of our other winners who this is their first season.

SPEAKER_12:

Tell us a little bit about I've been here playing this since 2022 on a senior, a little longer on the regular. Um, the reason I keep coming down here is all the guys that I meet. I mean, I'll come down for the senior and I'll see someone in the regular event, and I was like, hey Michael, where are we going to dinner tonight? And I only see them down here. I don't know them but from this. And there are guys from Augusta, Florida. One guy was from Louisiana. He goes, we're going go get shrimp tonight. You're coming along, right? Sure. Sounds great.

SPEAKER_11:

That's awesome. And which tour are you from?

SPEAKER_12:

I'm on the Cincinnati uh Dayton tour. We also go play the Columbus Tour and the Indianapolis Tour.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay. And you're not a uh first timer to sitting in this chair.

SPEAKER_12:

No, I got to do it twice last year. Got lucky.

SPEAKER_11:

And so how's it feel to be back again? So this is two years in a row.

SPEAKER_12:

Didn't expect it at all. My goal was just to come down and just not shoot 120.

SPEAKER_11:

So what did you shoot? Tell us about your two rounds.

SPEAKER_12:

I shot 80 on the day one. I got every break imaginable on the front nine. Then on the back nine, every break that I got on the front, I did not get on the back. I tried to hit it in people's yards across ponds and everything else. And just survived. Today was a 77. I played out of my um acted like I was 20 again. Okay. Hit fairways, hit greens on the front nine, and in the back nine, it was just hold on, hold on, don't do anything stupid. And that's all it was. Just tried, and guys in the group, both days were phenomenal. We cheered each other along. We tried to do our best to help each other out. If you got down, we were cheering each other on. Say, come on, don't give up, don't give up. And I just don't think people understand that if you have a good group where everybody gets along, how easy it makes the round go and how relaxed everybody is, and it makes a difference in your scores.

SPEAKER_11:

Right.

SPEAKER_12:

It really does.

SPEAKER_11:

Well, you you played really well. Got some breaks. What's the best part of your game these days? What do you think helped you win this the most?

SPEAKER_12:

I've been putting very well. Um it's what helped me out the most. But today in round two, I changed my driver's swing. I made it short, I hit it about 210, hit a little 10-yard fade on it, and I think I only missed two fairways all day long. And that made a big difference rather than the full swing and just just wailing at it.

SPEAKER_11:

Well, you obviously did something right. Is there um anything in particular that stands out? Uh, whether uh about about being down here this year from the senior tour?

SPEAKER_12:

Just love it. There's a lot of good guys. The people that run it do a phenomenal job. I appreciate everything they do. I used to run tournaments at my local tour, and I know it's thankless, and it's a lot of work.

SPEAKER_11:

Well, we we all do it because we love seeing the success of our players, uh, the camaraderie, just like you talk about. It's no different for us. We come down here, we get to see people like, you know, again, we were just talking, I was just talking to Chef Ellis that we met years ago when we were out in Chicago, and you get to see players from all over the country uh coming and and seeing you guys play and and being a part of it. It it's really uh it's it's a special environment here on the tour.

SPEAKER_12:

It is when you have people from other tours go, hey, this is a good event on ours. You come down, and when you come, here's my number. You call me, you're staying with me, you're not allowed to stay in a hotel. It's like, okay.

SPEAKER_11:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_12:

It's wonderful. It's it's very nice.

SPEAKER_11:

Well, I guess we'll be seeing you again next year, right?

SPEAKER_12:

That is the plan, unless the boss tells me otherwise.

SPEAKER_11:

All right. Well, we really appreciate you coming down and congratulations again.

SPEAKER_12:

Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_11:

And uh have a good off season, and and your your picture's gonna stay up for another year.

SPEAKER_12:

That's a rumor. So yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_11:

Congratulations again and uh have a safe trip home. I will.

SPEAKER_12:

That's a full 11 hours. Not too bad. You've talked about the temperature earlier. Uh-huh. The high back home is 52. Oh, that's the high. So this morning I was like, yeah, this is easy.

SPEAKER_11:

Yeah, that's where we were in the morning, but it it got up to 70 something today, and it was beautiful. So both safe travels back homes, and uh, we'll be looking forward to seeing you play again next year.

SPEAKER_12:

Plan he would be here next year.

SPEAKER_11:

Wonderful.

SPEAKER_12:

Thank you very much, Jen.

SPEAKER_11:

Absolutely. Uh, welcome back to the 2025 Senior Amateur Tour National Championship. I am here with our C Flight winner, all the way from Jacksonville and our Jacksonville tour, and we've got Rick Williams here. Um, why don't you tell everyone a little bit about your overall tour experience before we start talking about uh this national championship?

SPEAKER_09:

Sure. Uh first year in the tour, I turned uh 50 this year, which qualified me uh for the senior tour. Um I moved to uh the Jacksonville area just a couple years ago and found out about um the uh the senior tour just by by searching for competitive events uh in the area uh and um and ended up finding the the senior tour and joining, and it's been a great experience.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay. And so uh did you win much on the local tour or were you where were you in the point standings before you even got here?

SPEAKER_09:

So funny enough, I started I started off in the in the A flight. Okay. Um thinking that I was better than I was. Tournament golf's a little bit different than than leisure golf and um my handicap balloon. Uh and so they so Bernie um right-sized me, put me in the C flight, which is where my handicap took me, and still saw no success in the in the uh in the early rounds going into sea, and and then I uh I won one event uh this this year, and and then this was my my second.

SPEAKER_11:

And this is your first time down here, first time on the tour. It is so so tell us a little bit about uh what you like the most about participating and and the overall experience.

SPEAKER_09:

Yeah, so I I you know I played sports my entire life, team sports, played, you know, football in college, and um when you when you play competitive sports that long, it becomes part of you and and then something's missing when you stop it. It's that that competition, uh true competition that you get from um you know from doing things like this. And and so I, you know, little older do do you know a bunch of the other sports, but you know, golf is something that I intend on doing, you know, um as long as I can. And if I'm gonna do it, I might as well itch the competitive uh nerve I've got. And that's what brought me here.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay, so let's talk about the the two rounds that you played here.

SPEAKER_09:

Sure.

SPEAKER_11:

Uh tell us about uh day one, day two, kind of how it went, and uh what your what your thoughts were after the first day.

SPEAKER_09:

Sure. I played uh oyster uh reef on on the first day. Um I played okay. I I shot an 84, which tied me for uh uh first place um at in that at that event. Um I could have had a much better round. I I lipped out probably nine bucks where where literally just went around and and kind of kicked out. Um and uh but overall I I I thought I I played well, and obviously I did to get into the final group and um um you know felt like I was gonna come into this uh this day playing well.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay. And so starting day two, were you nervous? What what were your thoughts?

SPEAKER_09:

No, I don't think I was uh nervous day two. I I was focused. Uh and uh you know it it helps when you're in the final group and and you know kind of um what's going on. Funny enough, um the other gentleman that um one one of the guys in the group today took off and started playing very well in the beginning and then um uh you know kind of collapsed on on the back nine. But but throughout the day I thought I was chasing him the entire time. And through the first nine, I was. Um but my cart mate, quietly, I have no idea how um ended up tying me for the for the uh the uh two-round lead.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay, so did you go into a playoff?

SPEAKER_09:

We did, yeah, we did.

SPEAKER_11:

So so one hole or more?

SPEAKER_09:

One hole. We played 18 uh here at at um at at this course. And um, so he I shot 84, 88 uh today. He shot uh 85, 87 today, so 172 tie, and we ended up in a playoff on 18.

SPEAKER_11:

Um So tell us about that. Well, walk us through what happened on that sudden death playoff ball.

SPEAKER_09:

Yeah, so um so they they um flipped to see who who teed off first. I ended up teeing off first. My first shot I hit out of bounds off the tick.

SPEAKER_11:

No pressure, right?

SPEAKER_09:

No pressure. And so my my second shot um off the tee, it's par five um, by the way. Second shot ripped one right down the middle. Um, kind of went through the fairway and into the rough. When he saw me, uh when he saw that I was in my bag, in my bag already, he put his driver away and Alex to go, I think four iron was in four or three. And he hit it straight down the middle. And then he was up next, obviously, hit it straight down the middle, his second shot, and he was he's probably about a hundred um from the green from the from the flag. Um I was two forty. So this is now my third shot lying, lying uh so so uh third shot, or I'm lying three, excuse me, um, in in the roughs, two forty, and I hit a three-wood two forty just off the green. Okay, and uh, and so that put a little pressure on him. We get up to the to his ball, and he hit a a perfect iron uh right over the flag, right over the green, just into the rough adrenaline rush and and kind of cooked it. He said it was a perfect distance for him. Um and then he he chipped and it went down the hill, uh back into the rough on the other side, chipped on, and then he missed the putt two putt. Okay, gave him a seven, and then I I uh putt just off the green and then made a four or five footer to win with a six.

SPEAKER_11:

Nice job. Nice job. Yeah. So what did you think about playing down here in Hilton Head?

SPEAKER_09:

Uh, it's my second time this year. I'm not too far from being a three-hour trip, and so I've made my way up here um, I think once before, but yeah, it's very similar to Jacksonville. So uh a little chilly today.

SPEAKER_11:

Yeah, it we've had beautiful weather. Today was the first day that got a little chilly. I was out there in my long sleeves earlier, but uh it it was nice out there.

SPEAKER_09:

Yeah, a little chilly, but outside of that, uh the weather was great, the course was great. Um, it was a great event.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay. Well, thank you so much and congratulations. Thank you. We're glad you were here and uh enjoy your trophy and being displayed on the website for a whole year. Yep. Bragging rights, and hopefully we'll see you again next year.

SPEAKER_09:

Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_11:

Thank you. All right, we are here with the D-flight winner of the 2025 Senior Amateur Tour National Championship, Shep Ellis from Chicago. Shep, welcome. Oh, you're actually not from Chicago anymore.

SPEAKER_12:

Orlando. That's right. Chicago is free.

SPEAKER_11:

Yes. Yeah. Well, see, I'm showing that you've you've been around the tour for a little bit because uh Tim and I met you when we were up in Chicago or South Week. So now you're uh playing on the senior tour out in Florida and where it's much nicer weather. It is. And uh how long have you been on the senior tour?

SPEAKER_12:

Um I played senior events starting in 2018.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay.

SPEAKER_12:

I think. Yeah. Yeah. Chicago senior.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay. So you've been around the block.

SPEAKER_12:

Yep.

SPEAKER_11:

And uh and you th you think you're one of the older uh participants, right?

SPEAKER_12:

I know I am, that's all.

SPEAKER_11:

Are you gonna share your age with everyone?

SPEAKER_12:

74.

SPEAKER_11:

74, and you just won the national championship.

SPEAKER_12:

That's right. I'm just lucky to get out of bed.

SPEAKER_11:

And you're still smiling.

SPEAKER_12:

Yeah, yeah. It was good, it was fun.

SPEAKER_11:

Yeah? Tell us a little bit about the two days and and how it went for you.

SPEAKER_12:

It was just it was a grind. And uh I just went out there and played. I didn't look at anybody's score or anything. I was you know, you gotta beat the course. It's not the people you have to beat. So uh went out there and played and uh played so so, but it was enough.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay, what were your scores both days?

SPEAKER_12:

Uh first day was 90, second day was ninety-one.

SPEAKER_11:

Okay.

SPEAKER_12:

Yeah, and that's with uh that's with four putts. I had a couple four putts, and uh, you know, I didn't lose any balls though.

SPEAKER_11:

Well that'd be good.

SPEAKER_12:

Yep.

SPEAKER_11:

What what's the strength of your game these days?

SPEAKER_12:

Uh my short game. That's pretty much it.

SPEAKER_11:

Have you been practicing? What what have you done differently so that after all these years we're sitting here at the winner's table?

SPEAKER_12:

I just play a lot.

SPEAKER_11:

Good for you.

SPEAKER_12:

Yeah, and you have I have confidence.

SPEAKER_11:

Well good.

SPEAKER_12:

Chipping butt, you know, and goes in. Pretty much. The rest of the game's not the best, but you know.

SPEAKER_11:

Well, I I tell you, it's so nice to see you smiling here and and and playing, and like you heard, we were just on the phone for a minute with with Tim since he's not here and and he's so excited for you. You heard how genuinely excited he was.

SPEAKER_12:

He was, he was. Hi Tim. Thanks for having me on a podcast.

SPEAKER_11:

Uh we're we're glad that that you got on. Um and uh uh anything you wanna say about you know how things went, you know, because you're you've been here before, so this isn't your first time.

SPEAKER_12:

I think it's my third time.

SPEAKER_11:

What brings you what keeps you coming back?

SPEAKER_12:

Um I like the golf. I also win the points and I get a pay for well there you go. That's you each. I really is.

SPEAKER_01:

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_12:

So uh, you know, but hey, I'd like to thank uh Terry and Marco.

SPEAKER_10:

Okay.

SPEAKER_12:

It's their first year uh of running the seniors. Yes. They took over from uh Robbie.

SPEAKER_11:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_12:

And uh they're doing a good job.

SPEAKER_11:

They're good people, yeah. Good people doing they work hard, they care about their players, and and they do a great job. Yep.

SPEAKER_12:

Exactly, exactly.

SPEAKER_11:

Well, thank thank you. So okay.

SPEAKER_12:

I also have the drive to uh Orlando and beyond for all my senior tournaments because they don't have any in Tampa.

SPEAKER_10:

Right.

SPEAKER_12:

Right? So we've got to figure out how to get one back back to Tampa.

SPEAKER_10:

We're we're looking at it.

SPEAKER_12:

Yep.

SPEAKER_10:

We're we're looking at it.

SPEAKER_12:

That's two hours.

SPEAKER_10:

Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_11:

So well it paid off for you this year.

SPEAKER_12:

It did. So I had fun.

SPEAKER_11:

Well, I'm glad.

SPEAKER_12:

Thanks for having me.

SPEAKER_11:

Congratulations again. It's great seeing you. And uh you get to see your picture on the website all next year. You've got bragging right here.

SPEAKER_12:

Yeah, you'll travel sized posters.

SPEAKER_11:

When you come down next year, it'll be displayed, and then when you leave, you can take it with you. Fantastic. So travel safely, going home, and thanks for taking the time to talk to us. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03:

Let's take a break from the show to hear about TrickSon's ZX Mark II drivers.

SPEAKER_00:

ZX Mark II drivers are for major players. Major winners, major power. All new ZX Mark II drivers only from TrickSon.

SPEAKER_02:

Tim, um, you know, you need to stop having a uh a voice for for radio because uh they keep pulling you to do all the all the announcements for the winners. Um and you you threw me and Jen out there to the wolves, but I think we did a great job. It's awesome to to kind of get these champions' perspectives right after you know they win. Because like you said, it was my first one to have one guy and and to send him here and send him there, and then hey, I need you here, and then go through there, and and we need pictures here. It it's a lot for them. Yeah, and and and being being able to get their perspective and um kind of how they're feeling now that that the final putts rolled in, um, it's pretty cool. I mean it's it's hard to get them to talk, I'm gonna be honest with you. Um but it it's pretty cool to to to see their their emotions.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah. You know, I w you know we have the tagline where amateurs play like pros, and and just think of it from that perspective, you know, when a when a pro wins a tournament, the the number of responsibilities that that they have from the time that they walk off the course into the scoring shed to sign their card, um, from from that point on for hours after that, they've got media responsibilities, they've got sponsor responsibilities, they've got all kinds of different things. And and it's it's you're you're you're you're like a ping pong ball. You're going from here to here to here to here. Oh, we gotta need to have you back out on the green for the for the interview for the awards presentation, then from here to here to here to here. Right. Um and you know, it it's really no wonder, especially when it comes to majors for for the pros, why why the winner takes a week or two off. Because it's it's a lot. Because you can't you're not just like normally, you're not just jumping on on your on your private jet and going to the next destination right away. Yeah. Right?

SPEAKER_02:

I mean, I've I've seen pictures of of the masters where it's pitch black out there and they're signing flags, hundred, two hundred flags, just because they just won. So um, you know, we we we try and and emulate that the best we can. Uh, I think with with us being able to be there and to do the interviews kind of brings a little bit more to them. Um and you know, and then they can share with all their friends and family, which which is cool.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, yeah. And and you and Jen did did did a great job uh you know with these interviews, because again, it's it's real time, right? It's it's not like you know when we do a regular episode, you and I know who who we're gonna be talking to, and and we can do some research and look into them and and and really kind of prepare some things, but it's real time for us just like it's real time for them. Yeah. And you know, so so you're really getting raw emotion from them, you're you're getting raw, real feelings, and you're under a even for us, you're under time constraint, right? So if you if you remember as we were setting things up and and I was you know setting things up for you to start doing the interviews, and um somebody came in and said that I that I was needed out to to start calling off the voice was needed.

SPEAKER_02:

Your voice was needed.

SPEAKER_03:

And I said, look, you've got to give me five minutes. I said, No, you've got to give me four minutes. And he went out and he told Dennis that I would be there in three minutes. Right? And and so you you know you have time constraints. Yeah that that that things have to get done.

SPEAKER_02:

And and if you're not out there, you you read 'em pretty quick. So if I have a champion with me they started without me.

SPEAKER_03:

They started without me. And I was and I was there in under three minutes, right? Because pretty much after he left, I almost followed him out, but they started without me. And that's fine, because I I I get it, but you know, I I I say this more as an illustration for the for the listeners and for the golfers to see that you know, this is thing things are happening in in real time.

SPEAKER_10:

And yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

And to equate that to what what a good job that you and Jen did to do these interviews and for the players to as good a job as as they did, not only being champions, but being available and um being willing to answer these questions in in in real time. It was great, phenomenal.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, it's always a good time. And I mean w whether we're able to do it at a regional or or national champion every year, um, it's just great to be able to talk to them. Um you know, not everybody gets a chance to to win a big event like that. Uh so just kind of hear their stories. I mean, Jeff Wong's been there a couple times, but I don't think he's ever done interviews after after his wins. Um so being able to just hang out.

SPEAKER_03:

I you know, I I know I've hit Jeff Jeff up one uh you know after he's won one after he won the regional at uh uh he won Icebreaker, I've got him after that a couple times.

SPEAKER_02:

Um but well but I'm I'm talking about national championship. National championship, yeah. No, because he's he he's won it three times. Um and we talk about him a lot, and and you know, I even mentioned he he's in one of those name those groups of names that we always bring up. Um and he was able to to finish it off this year and and get the whole treatment. Um was was pretty cool, and it's just it it just shows the the excitement that these guys have.

unknown:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03:

So w what what was your favorite moment? What was your best moment for national championship this year?

SPEAKER_02:

Um personally, uh I was actually pretty surprised on the the director's award I got for innovation. Uh that that really surprised me. Um but it's pretty cool. I mean, because that's that's voted by the directors themselves. Uh so so really appreciative of that. Uh tour-wise, you know, I mean nothing's gonna be having a national champ. And I think with me uh withdrawing, it kind of made it a little more special to be out there on his final hole, uh, be able to record him. I was really hoping for like a tiger celebration, fist pump, and everything. Uh but no, the my guy putts first, taps in and picks up his ball and just walks away. And I'm like, That's it? Well, that's not good. Yeah, man. Like mark even if you miss it, mark it. Be the last guy to putt in. Like, like be that guy. Um, but no, it it was it was a great time to be able to see him and well deserved. He's worked hard and and now he's gonna be in the beef flight. Let's see how that pays off for him.

SPEAKER_03:

I hope you know he's a national champion, he'll he'll step up and rise to jump.

SPEAKER_02:

I'm pretty sure. He just has to be me now.

SPEAKER_03:

The higher we go, the more competition there is.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, sir. I've been there.

SPEAKER_03:

So you better be ready. So you know, for for me was you know, w when we had the the the awards at at um the tour directors dinner, um ha having everybody all the tour directors there uh in the shirts taking that picture for for Jennifer was was really, really special. And then the next day Thursday at check-in, you know, remember we had Shaggy on on the live feed on on uh Facebook L he was collecting money and and everybody was signing the shirt for for Jennifer. Um and so my favorite moment from National Championship actually happened uh a couple days ago. Uh Jennifer was at a uh chemo treatment and she was wearing a pink shirt and Dennis posted a picture of of her uh at her chemo treatment in that shirt. And so that for me was probably the the the best moment. Um to see her, she she looks really good for for going through what she's going through. She's lost lost some weight, but she looks she looks really good and um first time I've seen her in in in in a while. Uh so that was probably that was my my favorite moment, you know, to to see her at the treatment in in the shirt that you know that that the tour members have signed really kind of solidified everything and and and brought everything home and wrapped everything up for me.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I mean that's we we talked about before. It was gonna be different, and it was different. Um but the support that not only the directors had, but I mean the whole tour uh with with you know supporting with Shaggy and and his ribbons he was giving away and things like that, that was just awesome.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, I think Shaggy raised close to a thousand dollars just in those few hours.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Of doing.

SPEAKER_03:

That's pretty good. And again, that that goes back to n not only you know Shaggy's dedication to the tour and how he feels about uh uh raising money for cancer awareness, but it also shows the the tour's um stance to to do the same. Right.

SPEAKER_08:

Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_03:

So anyway, we've got to start looking forward to to next year. You know, you get I know you've got your rider cup thing. Yeah, you see how I just diminished that? Your your your little rider cup thing, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That little thing. Um, but I know you guys are looking forward to that. Uh our next episode will be our last episode of the tour year, and that'll be on on November the 17th, right, right before uh um Thanksgiving.

SPEAKER_02:

The festivities, yep.

SPEAKER_03:

That that'll be great. Um so what else you got going on? What what what what's your plan? I know you you haven't done anything with your schedule, you've been slacking off. Uh now you gotta I have.

SPEAKER_02:

I mean I and you can ask my wife this every year. I say I need to do it throughout the year. Yes. Every year. The problem is I I do travel to a lot of regionals. And I like to build my schedule around the regionals so I don't miss any events. That's what I'm going with. So I have I have the dates of the ones I'm possibly gonna do. So we're gonna work on that, and then I you gotta check with the wife, make sure that she doesn't have any vacations planned. That I if I scheduled an event on a vacation week, you'd be finding a new partner for the show.

SPEAKER_03:

No, no, no. Can't can't do that then. You get no you got you gotta let him have some free reign here somewhere. Oh, by the way, by the way, um you you need to tell her she she was very much missed this year.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I've I've been told um by a lot of people that asked. So uh I know Matt's wife was asking about her. Uh obviously Jen, uh Gina was asking, a lot of people were asking. So uh you know, I honestly if if if the kids school week can can be off the same week as Nationals, we might make it work and have everybody out there. Um because I know my boys would love it. I just would be afraid if if they would go pet an alligator. That that'd be my only concern.

SPEAKER_03:

No, you're you're your boys are smarter than that. Yeah. You truck uh It was pretty cool.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh on on the first day that the day I was able to play uh in one of the the ponds. Yeah. On on one of the drains drain covers, there were three little turtles, and and turtles are our our I guess family animal that we like. So I sent them a picture and they really enjoyed that. So I mean you you have those little sentimental moments, but uh proceeded to then on the next part three go into the water, drop on the tea box and stick it to three feet. So what can you do? That's golf.

SPEAKER_03:

That's it. That is it. Alright, my friend. Good seeing you.

SPEAKER_02:

And likewise.

SPEAKER_03:

We will talk again soon.

SPEAKER_02:

Um fair warning to all the directors. Um, if you haven't been on, you're gonna get on this year. That's gonna be one of our goals. And uh if you don't listen to our podcast, you're gonna get on. And we've given you the warning. So if you don't listen, that's your fault.

SPEAKER_03:

We'll just call you up at you know at a random time.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, there you go. Hey, and and we've we've improved. We got our shirts now. It worked out because it's cold in my house and I got a long sleeve.

SPEAKER_03:

Alright, so so you brought this up. Uh that was good.

SPEAKER_02:

It's 40 degrees. It's 40 degrees, and I haven't even turned the heater on yet. Alright? I gotta check the heater first before I turn it on. Which I'm gonna do today, and then it's gonna be 70 degrees tomorrow.

SPEAKER_03:

So why even bother?

SPEAKER_02:

Exactly. So I'll just get a big blanket and walk around all day.

SPEAKER_03:

How many days a year do you actually have to use heat? Seriously.

SPEAKER_02:

Um days? No, I'd say maybe mid-November through January. But it's but again, 50 degrees is cold to us, so we're gonna use the heat because we're not used to it. Why are you laughing? And it's only at night too, it's not during the day.

SPEAKER_03:

And I guess that's what really trips you up. Because you you you're cold and you get warmed up, you're used to it.

SPEAKER_02:

And then boom. Sun's gone at 4 30 and it's cold.

SPEAKER_03:

You'll be okay.

SPEAKER_02:

We're gonna survive.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah, I d I d I uh just not a little and dude. I I I did an interview with somebody uh yesterday, day before, last couple days, whenever it was. Um and he lives in Maui. And and he and I know he was being sarcastic, but he was telling me what a hard life it is, you know. The the ways don't allow him to go to snorkeling sometimes, you know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

You know, I I want to go back. I wouldn't want to live there. No. Just because I've seen the creatures that they have to deal with, and if you have more than eight legs, no sir.

SPEAKER_03:

No, you're not doing that, huh?

SPEAKER_02:

Nope. Uh-uh. And then uh it's just so expensive, man. It's very grocery shopping is we were there for a week, and I think we spent more money on grocery shopping than we did on flights.

SPEAKER_03:

But everything everything is is shipped in. I mean, they they pretty much don't have any that's not shipped in. So I mean, could you imagine buying a car over there? My God. No way. Nope. So, all right, my friend. And we'll leave it on that. What a down note. Don't don't go to lie. I mean, why why tourism boards are gonna be mad at us? I don't know. Um and we didn't even talk about Stews. How how else? Let's talk about Stu. How else was Stu's?

SPEAKER_02:

It was good, it was good. It was I mean it was fun to just be in there and see, you know, we're there for what, maybe an hour, uh, but to see how busy it got, and then you think that that it the line had died and it was done, and then blink of an eye, another big and and to be able to get the you know, chef on and you could I could I could see their their order board from where I was sitting, and that thing was never empty. It's crazy.

SPEAKER_03:

And what the the that I really liked about that as well is the number of golfers that were in there. Right. From the tour. Right. I mean, I I I don't think over the the hour that we were there that there was ever a time that there wasn't at least one of our golfers there. And I and I'm not sure I'm not talking about us, right? I'm talking about the you know the the uh the uh different people.

SPEAKER_02:

The people that came out, yeah. So I mean if we can continue doing something like that, maybe we bring more and more. Uh but uh I just thought it was a great a great time.

unknown:

Me too.

SPEAKER_02:

And good food.

SPEAKER_03:

Oh my god, it was so good. Well, uh, I can't go today. All right, my friend, you take care of yourself. We'll we'll talk to you soon.

SPEAKER_01:

Likewise.

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Tim Newman

Host
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Chris Rocha

Co-host